D&E projected 12th in poll

INDIANAPOLIS — Davis & Elkins College is projected to finish 12th and Alderson Broaddus 13th in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll presented by Under Armour released on Friday.

D&E returns 11 letter winners from last season and will enter 2018 under the direction of Doris Sullivan, who took over the program this summer after several successful seasons in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference at Adams State.

Defending champion Ohio Valley, which won both the regular-season title and tourney banner in 2017, earned eight first-place votes to lead 13 teams in consideration for the standings this fall.

Key players returning for AB include Rebecca Natoli and Rachel Gaspar. Both players logged over 1,300 minutes of playing time last season.

OVU’s 139 points edged out preseason runner-up Ohio Dominican, which had 134 points and garnered four first-place votes from the coaches. Receiving the other first-place vote in the balloting was Walsh.

Cedarville also toppled the century mark in total points on the preseason ballot with 107.

Charter league members Ursuline and Trevecca were separated by only two points as the dust settled for fifth and sixth. In similar fashion, G-MAC newcomer Tiffin edged out Findlay by only three points for positioning in seventh and eighth.

Kentucky Wesleyan was voted ninth, while Lake Erie, Malone, D&E and AB rounded out the poll.

The Lady Senators will open up their season on Sept. 1, traveling to West Liberty.

ABU kicks off the season at 5 p.m. on Aug. 31 against Northwood University in Columbus, Ohio.